After 15 years as Death Cab for Cutie frontman, Benjamin Gibbard has finally released his first solo album. Former Lives often goes beyond the indie pop confines of Death Cab for Cutie, touching on genres including Latin, alt-country, and ‘70s power pop.

Former Lives largely consists of songs written in the last eight years that never fit the themes of past Death Cab records. As a result, Gibbard’s solo debut finds him branching out on countrified “Teardrop Windows” and bubblegum -flavored “Duncan, Where You Have Gone?”

But this is hardly Gibbard’s first project outside of Death Cab. He is also known for his side project All-Time Quarterback, electronic duo The Postal Service with producer Jimmy Tamborello, and 2009 album with Jay Farrar One Fast Move or I’m Gone based on Jack Kerouac’s 1962 novel Big Sur.

On Former Lives, though, he finds a new partner in Aimee Mann, who he duets with on the indie ballad “Bigger Than Love,” and sings lead to old partner Zooey Deschanel’s backup vocals on mariachi-tinged “Something’s Rattling (Cowpoke).” But while Gibbard’s collaborative partners have numbered many over the years, his wittily yearning voice still comes through solo.

In this edition of World Cafe, hear Gibbard play several tracks from Former Lives and discuss his debut with host David Dye.